Distance PGCE with Nottingham Uni

**paully** · 20th October 2009 23:01

Originally Posted by markg

Sorry Paully - think we were at slightly crossed purposes here !

3. The PGCE (international) though is a different beast and that is what i am questioning the validity of. It's a 100% online course, provided by Sunderland Uni and Nottingham Uni. I believe that at Sunderland, your fees pay for an assessor to come out and visit you, and at Nottingham, you submit videos of your lessons. HOWEVER you will NOT get QTS (qualified teacher status) in the UK with this qualification. So my question is, 'is there any point in doing this wholly online course in Thailand to try to get a job in an International School here in Thailand?'

Ah, get what you mean now.
I think because it is called a 'PGCE' that the international version would still have value for those who want to further themselves by teaching overseas in international schools, as opposed to language schools. One 'PGCE' would look to the outsider much like another. The course would also bear the stamp of the UK university running it and result in the issue of a shiny certificate for schools and countries which value that kind of thing (Thailand springs to mind as such a country). I wouldn't know whether the content of the international PGCE is that much different from the domestic UK one.
I can see that it would be a useful qualification if you were employed at an international school and needed 'a PGCE' to bring your qualifications to the same level as the other teaching staff but avoid the expense and time of returning to the UK for the better-known domestic version.

**WhatsGrammar?** · 21st October 2009 02:10

Originally Posted by paully

Ah, get what you mean now.

I can see that it would be a useful qualification if you were employed at an international school and needed 'a PGCE' to bring your qualifications to the same level as the other teaching staff but avoid the expense and time of returning to the UK for the better-known domestic version.

Have to disagree here Paully.

Most of the Internationals (UK ones) require the QTS which comes with a home-grown PGCE and are unlikely to view the 'International' version (Professional Graduate Certificate in Education which concentrates heavily on the theory of teaching) very favourably with regards to Classroom Teacher positions or Subject teaching. IMHO.

**Cyrille** · 21st October 2009 02:15

Originally Posted by WhatsGrammar?

Most of the Internationals (UK ones) require the QTS which comes with a home-grown PGCE and are unlikely to view the 'International' version very favourably with regards to Classroom Teacher positions or Subject teaching. IMHO.

Agree absolutely.

Originally Posted by markg

If that is NOT the case, then what are peoples' thoughts on continued professional training? Ma Education? Ma Tesol ?

Worth it if you are heading for the Middle East.

Pretty much worthless in Thailand without a PGCE.

**process** · 21st October 2009 02:24

Originally Posted by jetho23

Sunderland appears to be the most established of the course but with the P standing for Professional, instead of Post, I have some concerns. Do I have good reason to be concerned or is it basically the same thing?

As far as I'm aware, if the PGCE assignments aren't completed at a masters level, the result is a professional graduate compulsory ed cert. Post is greater valued... but both give QTS

actually I'm wrong.... professional gce doesn't award QTS

**WhatsGrammar?** · 21st October 2009 02:29

Sure. Go with the MEd's or the MATESOL (or Applied Linguistics) or look at the joint MATESOL & Applied Linguistics which is offered by the Uni of Leicester (Distance-learning).

I have QTS but having decided years ago that I am not interested in teaching in the UK anymore I found the MA from Leicester Uni very helpful. Certainly increases your future career options and financial status.

Originally Posted by process

As far as I'm aware, if the PGCE assignments aren't completed at a masters level, the result is a professional graduate compulsory ed cert. Post is greater valued... but both give QTS

Hard to see how that would apply. One of the requirements now is to pass the 'Skill's Test' before QTS is awarded so hard to figure out how a grad compulsory cert qualifies, assuming you have failed the 'Skills Test'? (At Masters level ? I think ?)

Does that make sense?

**process** · 21st October 2009 02:35

The skills test is mandatory in England, but not Wales - dunno about Scotland & Ireland...

but yeah work not completed to masters level = professional grad comp ed = no QTS

**WhatsGrammar?** · 21st October 2009 02:43

Originally Posted by process

The skills test is mandatory in England, but not Wales - dunno about Scotland & Ireland...

Scotland and Ireland have teachers?

**paully** · 21st October 2009 03:35

Originally Posted by WhatsGrammar?

Have to disagree here Paully.

Most of the Internationals (UK ones) require the QTS which comes with a home-grown PGCE and are unlikely to view the 'International' version (Professional Graduate Certificate in Education which concentrates heavily on the theory of teaching) very favourably with regards to Classroom Teacher positions or Subject teaching. IMHO.

Glad to say I'm pleased to hear it, WG. Thanks for that.

**theanimaster** · 2nd August 2011 15:58

Sorry to bump this thread, but it remains to be answered --

• WHAT's the Distance PGCE from the University of Nottingham like?

• Do you get a shiny certificate saying "you are now God" at the end?

• What's the workload like?

• Can you apply for the course if you've done a bachelor's degree in Design, have been teaching for 7 years in a Thai government school and can draw really really nice and put on brilliant presentations?

I'm about to apply. I need 'certification' and I can't really go back to school (physically) because I have 2 kids and a wife to support here in Bangkok. Between this PCGE(i) and the course being run at Chulalongkorn University (in which the contact person never answers email), I'm really leaning toward doing the PGCE.